Ivan Kouznetsoff, a Russian engineer, recounts during World War II his stay in England prior to the war working on a new propeller for ice-breaking ships. Naïve about British people and convinced by hearsay that they are shallow and hypocritical, Ivan is both bemused and amused by them. He is blunt in his opinions about Britons and at first this puts off his hosts, including the lovely Ann Tisdall, whose grandfather runs the shipbuilding firm that will make use of Ivan's propeller. The longer Ivan stays, however, the more he comes to understand the humor, warmth, strength, and conviction of the British people, and the more they come to see him as a friend rather than merely a suspicious Russian. As a romantic bond grows between Ivan and Ann, a cultural bond begins to grow as well, particularly as the war begins and Russia is attacked by Germany.
Credits
The Demi-Paradise Cast
Name |
Character |
Laurence Olivier
He was 35, 82 years old when he died
|
|
Felix Aylmer
He was 53, 90 years old when he died
|
as Mr. Runalow |
John Laurie
He was 45, 83 years old when he died
|
as Wounded Sailor |
Brian Nissen
He was 15, 73 years old when he died
|
as George Tisdall |
Everley Gregg
She was 42, 58 years old when she died
|
as Mrs. Flannel |
Muriel Aked
She was 59, 71 years old when she died
|
as Mrs. Tisdall-Stanton |
Miles Malleson
He was 54, 80 years old when he died
|
as Theatre Cashier |
Aubrey Mallalieu
He was 69, 74 years old when he died
|
as Toomes, the Butler |
John Boxer
He was 17, 57 years old when he died
|
as British Sailor |
Joyce Grenfell
She was 32, 69 years old when she died
|
as Sybil Paulson |
Marie Ault
She was 72, 80 years old when she died
|
as Mrs. Jones |
Edie Martin
She was 63, 84 years old when she died
|
as Miss Winifred Tisdall |
Margaret Rutherford
She was 50, 80 years old when she died
|
as Rowena Ventnor |
George Cole
He was 17, 90 years old when he died
|
as Percy |
Charles Paton
He was 68, 95 years old when he died
|
as Mr. Bishop |
Johnnie Schofield
He was 44, 56 years old when he died
|
as Ernie |
George Thorpe
He was 34, 76 years old when he died
|
as Herbert Tisdall |
Niall MacGinnis
He was 29, 63 years old when he died
|
as Man on Ship-Dedication Stand |
Leslie Henson
She was 51, 66 years old when she died
|
as Himself |
Ian Wilson
He was 3, now 85 years old
|
as Army Bandmaster |
Wilfrid Hyde-White
He was 39, 87 years old when he died
|
as Nightclub Waiter |
Gladys Henson
She was 45, 85 years old when she died
|
as Mrs. Frost |
Marian Spencer
She was 22, 61 years old when she died
|
as Mrs. Teddy Beckett |
Margaret Withers
She was 49, 84 years old when she died
|
as Mrs. Elliston |
Harry Fowler
He was 16, 85 years old when he died
|
as Small Boy (An Evacuee) |
Marjorie Fielding
She was 50, 64 years old when she died
|
|
Ben Williams
He was 51, 68 years old when he died
|
as Heckler |
Michael Shepley
He was 35, 53 years old when he died
|
as Mr. Walford |
Guy Middleton
He was 35, 65 years old when he died
|
as Dick Christian |
George Street
|
as Heckler |
Penelope Dudley-Ward
She was 28, 67 years old when she died
|
|
David Keir
He was 59, 87 years old when he died
|
as Jordan |
Jack Watling
He was 19, 78 years old when he died
|
as Tom |
The Demi-Paradise Crew
Name |
Department |
Bernard Knowles as Director of Photography. He was 42 (74) years old when He died
|
Camera |
Anatole de Grunwald as Producer. He was 32 (56) years old when He died
|
Production |
Anatole de Grunwald as Writer. He was 32 (56) years old when He died
|
Writing |
Nicholas Brodszky as Original Music Composer. He was 37 (53) years old when He died
|
Sound |